12 Tips to Building a Resume That Gets You Hired

When applying for a job, your resume is the essential tool that helps you get a foot in the door.

So, how do you write a resume that makes you stand out from the competition in the tough job market we face today?

Following are a dozen tips that can help.

1. Focus on the position you are pursuing

Read the job description to determine how your skills match the qualifications the employer lists. Then emphasize those details in the summary of your work experience, skills and accomplishments. That will get a hiring manager’s attention.

Many big companies scan resumes submitted online to weed out those that don’t meet their criteria. So use keywords from the job description in your resume.

2. Don’t just list work history

Employers want to know what you have achieved in your career. Accomplishments separate winning candidates from those who don’t make the cut.

Quantify your successes if you can and be as specific as possible. Replace vague claims like “worked in loss prevention and saved money” by telling the employer how much money you saved, and exactly how you did it.

3. Emphasize job titles, not dates

Salary.com says hiring managers review resumes quickly: A brief read, and it’s done. So keep them focused on the important details. The website adds:

When listing past employment, instead of listing dates first, list them last. A good order is: title/position, name of employer, city/state of employer, and then dates.

4. Tell the truth

Never fabricate a few elements on your resume or cover letter to boost credibility or expertise.

Because employers are aware of this common practice, they often go beyond basic reference checks and conduct background checks and employment verifications to validate the information that candidates provide.

11. Don’t ramble

Employers have different expectations for resume length based on tenure in the workforce. For new college graduates, 66 percent of employers said a resume should be one page long. For seasoned workers, the majority of employers (77 percent) said a resume should be at least two pages.

12. Lose the reference footer

No need to disclose that “references are available upon request.” A potential employer will assume this information is readily available.

Do you have resume tips that have helped you land a job? Share them in our Forums. It’s a place where you can swap questions and answers on money-related matters, life hacks and ingenious ways to save.

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After spending years as a governmental accountant, I decided to transition into the world of freelance writing. When I'm not busy writing, I enjoy mentoring mommy-preneurs and helping others manage their finances. ... More

After spending years as a governmental accountant, I decided to transition into the world of freelance writing. When I'm not busy writing, I enjoy mentoring mommy-preneurs and helping others manage their finances. I hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from the University of South Florida.